How to Route Starlink Cable Into the House? After you receive your Starlink kit, you must do a few things before you can enjoy fast browsing in remote areas.
First, you must install your dish in an elevated and open place to facilitate communication with the nearest satellite.
Then, you have to set up your network, which involves routing the cable from the dish to the router and powering the setup.
In this guide, I will teach you how to route Starlink cable into the house without damaging it or your wall.
Do You Need to Drill a Hole to Run Starlink Cable?
Yes, you must drill a hole in the wall before you can route the Stalink cable to your house.
The cable features a big ferrite-like shielding, meaning drilling is necessary to ensure it passes through.
While you can run the cable through a vent, you may have to widen the hole to accommodate the extra cable width.
When routing the cable, ensure you ground it properly by the National Electrical Code guidelines.
This earthing is necessary to ensure protection against lightning strikes for the structure and its occupants.
Additionally, if you are a tenant, you may need drilling consent from your building owner, lest you get into a legal drama.
Drilling through the wall
Tools and Materials You Require to Get the Starlink Cable Into the House
To route the Starlink ethernet cable through your wall, you will require the following tools and materials:
- Drill and appropriate drill bits for boring a hole through the wall
- Enough screws for installing the cable route on the wall
- Plugs for cable management
- Exterior and interior grommets, which you insert on the wall holes to prevent friction and facilitate smoothing cable pass-through.
- Ethernet routing tool for plugging the cable at one end and then pulling through the hole
- A stud finder to help identify points on the wall where electrical and plumbing infrastructure is to avoid drilling through them.
- Sealant to seal the extra space in the holes you drilled
I recommend buying the Starlink cable routing kit, which comes with all the above items apart from the stud finder and the drill.
Using a stud Finder
How to Route Starlink Cable Into the House
Apart from installing the dish on the roof, cable routing is the other challenging task in Starlink installation.
Fortunately, having the tools we discussed above, I will show you a detailed step-by-step guide on how to route it easily.
Identify a suitable cable route.
The first step in routing your Starlink cable is to identify the convenient path it will follow to reach the dish without strain.
Therefore, ensure you mark this path properly to avoid confusion during installation. While here, you can also use a stud finder to ensure you don’t drill holes in areas with electrical and plumbing systems.
Leave about 6 inches between your Starlink and electric cable in places with an electrical wire to avoid electromagnet interference.
Unplug your device from the socket.
You do not want to keep pulling your cable while connected to the router and the power socket.
For starters, this can destroy the connectors or the router plug hole, which is inconvenient.
Hence, you must remove the cable from the router and carry it to where you plan to drill the routing hole.
Cable through wall
Drill the pilot hole
Once you have identified the correct place to drill the hole, it is time for pilot drilling from inside and outside.
Use the drill bit in the Stalink routing kit and angle it so the interior hole is above the exterior.
While this may seem demanding, it is necessary to prevent rainwater from entering your wall.
Expand the hole on the outside and inside.
In this step, you will expand and deepen the pilot hole using a ¾ spade bit from the inside.
Place the bit at the center of the hole, drill through the drywall, and stop at the insulation layer. Do the same on the outside wall and drill until you find the wall cavity.
Pass your Starlink cable through the hole.
Here is where you guide the cable from the house to the outside. To do this, you must first identify the dish connector end of the cable.
Then, attach the ethernet routing tool to the cable at this end and insert it into the hole.
Since you angled the hole, you may need someone to help you guide the tool from the inside to the outside.
Routing on the wall
When you have successfully guided the cable outside, pull enough length to ensure it reaches the dish. It would be best to pull some extra inches to accommodate the wall routing.
Now use screws and clips to pin the cable on the wall. You might also want to install a drip loop to prevent rainwater from entering your house.
Connect the dish and the router and test.
Now, you are almost done with the routing; all that is needed is properly connecting the cable to the dish.
Ensure you push it well until you hear a click sound, and be careful not to break the connector.
Now, go into your house and guide the rest of the cable to the router.
Carefully coil the excessive length and place it behind the router.
From there, connect the cable to the router and power the setup. Give it time to reboot and test if it’s working properly.
Connecting the router
Seal the hole
Once you are certain your setup is working, it’s time to seal the holes to prevent water from entering your house.
You will do this by inserting the grommets into the cable from the outside first.
Now, apply the silicon sealant and push the grommet to seal the hole. Repeat this process on the inside, and you are done.
How do I Replace My Starlink Cable?
If your cable is destroyed during routing or has been gnawed by rodents, it can be devastating since your internet won’t work.
Fortunately, you can replace it easily by ordering a new one from Starlink.
Just place an order on their website like you would with any other Starlink accessory and get a 75-inch cable delivered.
Conclusion
With the above steps and tools, you can easily and conveniently router your Stalink cable to your house.
While this is a straightforward process, you may consider hiring a professional in case of difficulties or don’t have time.